Live coverage of the Malaysian MotoGP race at Sepang.
3:00pm (local) / 7:00am (UK)
Marc Marquez starts Sunday at Sepang with a 19-point lead over absent title rival Jorge Martin, who withdrew from the event after trying to ride a week after breaking his wrist at Phillip Island.
Marquez claimed a runner-up finish behind KTM's Pedro Acosta in Saturday's damp Sprint race, but a top two finish in today's Grand Prix would give Marquez a title chance next weekend in Qatar.
Pole qualifier Alex Marquez will be out to make amends after crashing from the Sprint lead, while Aprilia will be looking to Marco Bezzecchi and Ai Ogura to limit the damage in both the riders' and constructors' title battle.
Bezzecchi finished third in the Sprint, while Trackhouse rider Ogura led the most race laps before being shuffled to fourth.
After narrowly dodging a deluge in the Sprint, weather forecasts warn of possible thunderstorms during the Grand Prix.
Alex Marquez will pull out of the Qatar GP to have surgery.
Marc Marquez has won in Malaysia to put one hand on the championship.
Marc Marquez can win the world championship in Qatar after dominating the Malaysian GP.
Marco Bezzecchi ran wide on the last lap and lost fifth place to Enea Bastianini, making Aprilia's day even worse.
How Marc Marquez can win the 2026 MotoGP title at the Qatar Grand Prix
Marc Marquez wins the 2026 Malaysian MotoGP at Sepang, setting up a title chance next weekend in Qatar.
Pedro Acosta second, Alex Marquez third.
1. Marc Marquez
2. Pedro Acosta +4.203s
3. Alex Marquez +6.336s
4. Ai Ogura +7.610s
5. Marco Bezzecchi +8.322s
6. Enea Bastianini +11.180s
7. Luca Marini +15.629s
8. Fabio Di Giannantonio +16.142s
9. Franco Morbidelli +22.612s
10. Brad Binder +22.940s
11. Alex Rins +24.512s
12. Fabio Quartararo +24.659s
13. Francesco Bagnaia +28.034s
14. Maverick Viñales +33.095s
15. Iker Lecuona +33.372s
16. Jack Miller +35.927s
17. Johann Zarco +1 lap
RT. Diogo Moreira +4 laps
RT. Joan Mir +9 laps
RT. Augusto Fernandez +16 laps
Ogura and Bezzecchi make hard contact through the tight Turn 1-2 sequence, sending Ogura's aero flying.
They both stay on, and Ogura makes the pass shortly after.
Ai Ogura launches his RS-GP under Marco Bezzecchi to try and snatch fourth - no Aprilia team orders here!
Johann Zarco has hit trouble on his LCR Honda and appears to be cruising.
Marc Marquez's lead exceeds 3-seconds over Pedro Acosta with four laps to go.
The reigning champion is firmly on course for victory, setting up a title chance next weekend in Qatar.
Two-thirds gone...
1. Marc Marquez
2. Pedro Acosta +2.216s
3. Alex Marquez +3.678s
4. Marco Bezzecchi +3.974s
5. Ai Ogura +4.418s
6. Enea Bastianini +7.532s
7. Johann Zarco +8.539s
8. Luca Marini +9.659s
9. Fabio Di Giannantonio +11.096s
10. Brad Binder +15.650s
11. Franco Morbidelli +16.086s
12. Alex Rins +17.980s
13. Fabio Quartararo +18.459s
14. Francesco Bagnaia +21.486s
15. Jack Miller +22.941s
16. Iker Lecuona +23.082s
17. Maverick Viñales +25.184s
18. Diogo Moreira +55.686s
RT. Joan Mir +4 laps
RT. Augusto Fernandez +12 laps
Diogo Moreira has crashed out of tenth place, rejoins.
Marc Marquez is holding his lead over Acosta at two seconds.
Joan Mir has pulled into the pits and retired. Unfortunately, it sounds like he might still be struggling with fatigue issues.
Halfway through the grand prix...
1. Marc Marquez
2. Pedro Acosta +1.856s
3. Alex Marquez +2.546s
4. Marco Bezzecchi +2.834s
5. Ai Ogura +3.307s
6. Enea Bastianini +6.137s
7. Johann Zarco +6.508s
8. Luca Marini +7.156s
9. Fabio Di Giannantonio +8.184s
10. Diogo Moreira +10.129s
11. Brad Binder +11.466s
12. Franco Morbidelli +11.845s
13. Alex Rins +13.704s
14. Fabio Quartararo +14.876s
15. Jack Miller +16.356s
16. Francesco Bagnaia +17.022s
17. Iker Lecuona +17.290s
18. Maverick Viñales +17.709s
RT. Joan Mir +1 lap
RT. Augusto Fernandez +8 laps
The Aprilias of Marco Bezzecchi and Ai Ogura are now looking to find a way past the fading Alex Marquez.
Pedro Acosta overtakes Alex Marquez for second place with a surprise move into the tight turn 9. Marc Marquez is 1.9s ahead.
The reason why Acosta is all over Alex is clear: He's dropping away from Marc Marquez, who now has a 1.5s lead.
Normally, riders don't like to follow too closely for too long due to rising front tyre pressure, but Pedro Acosta is still all over Alex Marquez's rear wheel.
One-third of the race gone and it still looks like nobody is showing their cards yet.
Three clear groups have formed as riders save their tyres:
1. Marc Marquez
2. Alex Marquez +0.823s
3. Pedro Acosta +1.149s
4. Marco Bezzecchi +1.892s
5. Ai Ogura +2.503s
6. Enea Bastianini +4.248s
7. Johann Zarco +4.701s
8. Luca Marini +5.234s
9. Fabio Di Giannantonio +6.141s
10. Joan Mir +6.883s
11. Diogo Moreira +7.366s
12. Brad Binder +7.589s
13. Franco Morbidelli +8.288s
14. Alex Rins +9.434s
15. Francesco Bagnaia +10.386s
16. Fabio Quartararo +10.813s
17. Jack Miller +11.710s
18. Iker Lecuona +12.337s
19. Maverick Viñales +13.029s
RT. Augusto Fernandez +5 laps
Marc Marquez ups the pace to 1m 59.7s, and builds a 0.6s lead over brother Alex.
Pedro Acosta is hassling Alex Marquez for second place, but the KTM rider can't find a way past.